Re: R: A manual...

[Brian Rogoff <bpr@best.com>]

On Tue, 16 Jan 2001, Alex Baretta wrote:
> -----Messaggio originale-----
> Da: Alex Baretta <alex@baretta.com>
> A: caml-list@inria.fr <caml-list@inria.fr>
> Data: domenica 14 gennaio 2001 21.49
> Oggetto: A manual...
> 
> >Hi there! I'm a new Ocaml user and enthusiast. ...
> 
> I guess I am a little over enthusiastic. 

NO! There can never be too much OCaml enthusiasm. One of the many things a 
language needs to become widespread is enthusiastic newbies. Crank up the 
volume dude.

> I forgot to mention one
> important point: i found the online manual a read several sections. I
> found parts that looked more like a reminder for somebody who already
> knows the language very well, and others (the short overview at the
> beginning of the manual) excessively shallow to help understand the
> most powerful features of the language. I would really appreaciate if
> anyone could point me to some other online documentation on the
> language, with which from a simple Ocaml enthusiast I might become an
> Ocaml guru.

If you read French, try this site 

http://www.pps.jussieu.fr/Livres/ora/DA-OCAML/index.html

which is the online O'Reilly book. If you have time, and your French is as
good as your English, you could join the volunteer effort to translate
this. 

I wish there were more docs available, since a friend of mine who I was
trying to bring to the light is going to try SML instead, on account of
the wider availability of simple tutorial material. The level of the 
Caml materials was to high for him, given his background and available
time. 

> BTW, thanks to all who have taken time to answer my first mail. I hope
> I'm not bugging you guys. I have now been reading this mailing list
> for several days, and I have noticed that the average level is a
> little over my understanding (say, another couple of years of
> university study above my understanding): it is probably not the right
> place for a newbie to post, or is it?

It is a well moderated list, so don't worry, if Pierre thinks it isn't
right, he'll reject it. Newbie questions are great, it means the Ocaml 
ranks are swelling. Maybe one day that other common thread about whether 
business will accept Ocaml will become irrelevant on account of the 
hordes of knowledgeable Ocaml programmers. Welcome aboard!

-- Brian